Little Selection For Teaching Jobs?

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1949, Page 6

Little Selection For Teaching Jobs?

' WELLINGTON, Tue. (P.A.)—We claim that there is little selection at all, said the president of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Mr D. M. Jillett) referring at today's sitting of the consultative committee on the training of teachers, to the current intake into teachers’ training colleges.

Mr Jillett said that in the North Island particularly, the institute felt the numbers coming forward did not allow a range of selection. Many of the qualities sought in teachers 'were inborn, and if the profession was not getting its fair share of material, those qualities would not be available.

It was feared that there was a great danger that the present shortage could cause a lowering in educational standards when a rising standard was -ought. The present salaries and service conhtfons did have an effect on the numers in the profession, said Mr Jillett, s teachers were leaving for other ays of earning a living. The institute’s proposal for a bachelor of education degree could be put to the University of New Zealand with some force, continued Mr Jillett A system of concurrent study for the degree with the training college course was envisaged. Extramural studies would follow, he added.

“INEFFICIENT PROCESS”

The torching profession should no tr’era’e the filling of special nosi’ion? ’ y the'■‘rrdy and inefficient : rccrrs rf “lr"rning on the job.” said he principal of the'Wellington Teachers’ Training College (Mr A. J. Waghorn-) before the committee.

He sugges'ed preparation for specialist training should he begun in the normal training covVe by students who felt a special call for this kind of work.

It was not recommended, however, that trainees should proceed straight to specialist teaching before the beginner established a "general practitioner.”

Chicken Stealing ?

WELiTTGTON, Tue. (P.A.).—“lsn’t that a c so of chicken stealing?” asked Mr D. ®. Ball, a member of the consultative committee on the training of teachers which today heard evidence from the New Zealand Educational Institute. Mr Ball made his remark after the institute’s president (Mr D. M. Jillett) had submitted suggestions for the pre-selection of trainee-teachers during their attendance at post-primary schools.

Mr A. N. McAloon said other professions would want a similar opportunity.

Chicket stealing went on, said Mr B. C. Penney, a member of the institute’s executive.

He said he knew that at the training college at which he taught in Christchurch, a number of students had been approached by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.